Stillbirth – Types, Causes, Diagnosis, And Prevention
What is Stillbirth?
A stillbirth is the death or demise of a fetus before or at the time of delivery. Despite being similar to a miscarriage, they differ based on the duration they occur.
Types of Stillbirth
- A condition when a fetus dies during 20 – 27 weeks of pregnancy is termed early Stillbirth.
- When a fetus dies during 28 -36 weeks of pregnancy it is called late Stillbirth.
- Lastly, the fetus death between 37 or more completed weeks is called Term Stillbirth.
Women who are at risk of having a StillBirth
Risk Of Stillbirth
Women with the following habits are likely at risk of having stillbirth:
- Foregoing health conditions
- Excessive weight
- Undernourished
- Women 35 years of age and above.
- Drinking, smoking, or intake of addictive drugs.
Causes of Stillbirth:
Listed below are a few causes of stillbirth:
- Placenta and umbilical cord issues: the placenta is the organ that forms in the uterus when you are pregnant. With the placenta and umbilical cord, the fetus obtains blood, nutrients and oxygen. Any problem in either of them can disrupt fetal development.
- Lupus: A disease when the immune system attacks its tissues. And a woman with such a condition is at high risk of having a stillbirth.
- Clotting problem: A woman having a blood clotting condition might be at risk.
- Toxaemia of Pregnancy: A complex condition resulting in high blood pressure and damage to organs like the liver and kidney.
- Trauma: Vehicle crash trauma can cause stillbirth.
Diagnosis of Stillbirth
Typically the movement of the fetus gets unusual. And with the help of ultrasound, it can be accurately diagnosed.
Stillbirth Prevention
Generally, a stillbirth can’t be prevented. And usually occurs due to the underdevelopment of the fetus. However with lifestyle improvement and managing already existing health conditions, your chances of successful pregnancy increase. Also with early detection of abnormalities with continuous tests and diagnosis, your doctor can help you reduce the risk of Stillbirth.
